Adaptive Evolution in Weeds: Molecular Basis and Management

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Weed Science and Weed Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 4461

Special Issue Editor

Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
Interests: weed; seed dormancy; germination behavior; herbicide resistance; population dynamics; adaptive evolution; weed management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Weeds are the most important biotic limitation to agricultural production and pose a major threat to global food security. In hundreds of years, weeds have been subjected to frequent anthropogenic disturbances aiming to eradicating them. Selective pressures exerted by agronomic practices on weed populations inevitably foster the evolution of adaptive traits. Among them, seed dormancy, germination behavior, herbicide resistance, and stress tolerance, are key adaptive traits for weed success in agricultural ecosystems. However, the molecular basis and genetic regulation of the evolution process remains unclear in the literature, and challenges may arise when employing this knowledge to refine our weed-management strategies.

In this Special Issue, entitled "Adaptive Evolution in Weeds: Molecular Basis and Management", we attempt to elucidate the molecular basis of weed adaptive evolution by contributing with novel mechanistic insights and important management strategies. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the molecular basis of seed dormancy and germination, mechanisms of herbicide resistance and biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, and integrated weed management.

Welcome invite submissions of research that includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

  1. New insights into weed adaptive evolution;
  2. Weed-seed dormancy and germination;
  3. Abiotic/biotic stress tolerance;
  4. Target-site/non-target-site herbicide resistance;
  5. Molecular basis of evolution and phenotypic variation in adaptive traits;
  6. Management of herbicide/stress resistance;
  7. Novel approaches for weed-management strategies.

We welcome novel research articles and reviews addressing all the related topics that introduce new discoveries, insights, and management strategies regarding adaptive evolution occurring in weeds.

Prof. Dr. Shouhui Wei
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • weed
  • adaptive evolution
  • seed dormancy
  • germination behavior
  • population dynamics
  • herbicide resistance
  • stress tolerance
  • weed management

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 2865 KiB  
Article
Genomic Insights into Seed Germination Differences in Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum Dunal) under Contrasting GA and ABA Availability
by Zhaoxia Chen, Longlong Li, Kaidie Wu, Dandan Zhao, Long Yang, Hongjuan Huang, Zhaofeng Huang and Shouhui Wei
Agronomy 2024, 14(1), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14010212 - 18 Jan 2024
Viewed by 581
Abstract
Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum Dunal) is an invasive species that seriously endangers crop production and the ecological environment. Seeds are the primary source of infestation; therefore, understanding the molecular basis of buffalobur seed dormancy, and germination is crucial for precision weed management. In [...] Read more.
Buffalobur (Solanum rostratum Dunal) is an invasive species that seriously endangers crop production and the ecological environment. Seeds are the primary source of infestation; therefore, understanding the molecular basis of buffalobur seed dormancy, and germination is crucial for precision weed management. In this study, high-throughput RNA-Seq was performed on buffalobur seeds, which imbibed under 0.35 mmol/L giberellic acid (GA) and 0.35 mmol/L abscisic acid (ABA). In total, 3658 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified during seed germination. Gene annotation revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched during the protein metabolic process, as well as the macromolecular complex and cytoplasmic part for ABA versus GA. Pathway analysis predicted that the DEGs were associated with metabolic pathways, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and ribosome. Nine germination-related genes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of the phytohormones and encoding of the endo-β-mannanase (EBM) were identified. Gene expression indicated that GA upregulated GA3OX1 and MAN2 expression to increase the EBM activity, which caused the endosperm cap to weaken and lowered the puncture force to trigger the germination of buffalobur. The obtained results would be helpful to clarify the regulation of seed dormancy and the germination of buffalobur, and could serve as a valuable resource when unravelling the genetic basis of seed biology of this weed species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Evolution in Weeds: Molecular Basis and Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1629 KiB  
Article
Competitiveness of Bensulfuron-Methyl-Susceptible and -Resistant Biotypes of Ammannia auriculata Willd. in Direct-Seeded Rice
by Siyu Yang, Jie Liu, Rui Liu, Guojun Zhou, Chang Chen, Weijun Zhou, Basharat Ali, Wenjun Gui, Jinwen Zhu and Antonio DiTommaso
Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041152 - 18 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1036
Abstract
Ammannia auriculata Willd. (eared redstem) has become one of the most troublesome weeds in paddy rice in China. Resistance to bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) has spread extensively in this species. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to determine how the eared redstem biotype and density [...] Read more.
Ammannia auriculata Willd. (eared redstem) has become one of the most troublesome weeds in paddy rice in China. Resistance to bensulfuron-methyl (BSM) has spread extensively in this species. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to determine how the eared redstem biotype and density affect competition against rice. In the greenhouse experiment, five treatments were tested: a BSM-susceptible biotype at low density (58 plants m−2, SL), a BSM-susceptible biotype at high density (288 plants m−2, SH), a BSM-resistant biotype at low density (RL), a BSM-resistant biotype at high density (RH), and a control without eared redstem (CK). Eared redstem grew slowly until 15 days after sowing (DAS); however, growth accelerated after 20 DAS, and the eared redstem plants were taller than the rice from 55 DAS on. The SH and RH treatments were associated with greater intraspecific competition: eared redstem plants in the SH and RH treatments had fewer branches, fewer capsules, and less shoot dry weight per individual plant relative to the SL and RL treatments. The SH and RH treatments also caused greater reductions in the rice yield. The dry weight of rice at 141 DAS was reduced by 73% in the SL treatment, 98% in the SH treatment, 51% in the RL treatment, and 82% in the RH treatment, all relative to the CK. At 141 DAS, BSM-resistant plants were smaller than BSM-susceptible plants, suggesting a fitness cost of herbicide resistance in the absence of a herbicide. In the field study, eared redstem densities as low as 5 plants m−2 reduced the rice yield by 22%. A density of 50 eared redstem plants m−2 reduced the rice yield by 70%. Overall, these findings demonstrate that eared redstem is a highly aggressive weed species and threatens the rice yield even at a low density. However, the findings also demonstrate that BSM-resistant populations are less competitive. There is an urgent need to develop integrated management programs for this aggressive weed, which may include tactics to shift competitive dynamics in favor of rice. Additionally, this research provides the theoretical basis for the damage level, resistance risk evaluation, and management strategy of eared redstem in rice cropping systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Evolution in Weeds: Molecular Basis and Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1676 KiB  
Article
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Solanum nigrum Based on Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Markers
by Jinhui Li, Shouhui Wei, Zhaofeng Huang, Yuyong Zhu, Longlong Li, Yixiao Zhang, Ziqing Ma and Hongjuan Huang
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030832 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1077
Abstract
Solanum nigrum is a noxious weed in agricultural ecosystem that limits many crops’ production. The aim of the present study was to understand the level of genetic diversity and population structure of S. nigrum in China. A specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing method [...] Read more.
Solanum nigrum is a noxious weed in agricultural ecosystem that limits many crops’ production. The aim of the present study was to understand the level of genetic diversity and population structure of S. nigrum in China. A specific-locus amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing method was conducted to detect single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genomes of S. nigrum from 66 populations in China. A total of 616,533 high-quality SNPs were identified from 189,840 SLAFs, with an average sequencing depth of 10.59× fold and a Q30 value of 93% and a GC content of 42.78%. It showed a considerable amount of genetic diversity and genetic variability of S. nigrum among samples. The genetic differentiation of S. nigrum indicated that there was a low level of genetic differentiation (Fst < 0.1000) among geographical populations. A cluster analysis showed that populations of S. nigrum were divided into two subgroups, with some samples from adjacent position roughly clustered together, which showed some correlation between geographic origins. A population structure analysis suggested the 66 S. nigrum samples could have originated from three different genetic clusters. The Xinjiang site was the only location where all genetic clusters were found, which suggested these populations were genetically diverse. These results showed that there was a high degree of genetic diversity and low difference among the different geographical populations of S. nigrum. The results from the genetic structure of the SNP markers indicated that wide genetic variability exists among the population of S. nigrum in China, which may contribute to the adaptation and infestation of this weed species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Evolution in Weeds: Molecular Basis and Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1275 KiB  
Article
Gene Amplification of EPSPS with a Mutation in Conserved Region: The Evolved Glyphosate Resistance Mechanism in Eleusine indica
by Jingchao Chen, Zhiling Li, Hailan Cui, Haiyan Yu and Xiangju Li
Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030699 - 27 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1250
Abstract
Goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.) is one of the most vicious weeds worldwide, competing with crops and greatly reducing their yields. Glyphosate, a non-selective, broad spectrum, post-emergence herbicide has inevitably induced severe resistance in many weeds owing to its intensive use. Additionally, [...] Read more.
Goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.) is one of the most vicious weeds worldwide, competing with crops and greatly reducing their yields. Glyphosate, a non-selective, broad spectrum, post-emergence herbicide has inevitably induced severe resistance in many weeds owing to its intensive use. Additionally, control strategies rely on the clarity of resistance mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the resistance levels and potential resistance mechanisms of two goosegrass populations collected from orchards. Results showed that the resistance indexes of LL and SS populations were 3.8 and 1.9, respectively. A single nucleotide change led to a Pro106Leu (P106L) mutation in the LL population and the SS population had a Pro106Ser (P106S) amino acid substitution. The EPSPS expression in both populations was 2.6 times that of the wild-type population. However, the relative copy number and EPSPS protein content in the LL population were higher than those of the SS population, as indicated by immunoblot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Overall, we confirmed EPSPS amplification with a P106L mutation, resulting in overproduction of this mutated EPSPS protein, which conferred moderate glyphosate resistance. This study details a case of simultaneous evolution of mutation and amplification in EPSPS of glyphosate resistance weeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Evolution in Weeds: Molecular Basis and Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop